“The Portuguese recognize the work the government led by the PSD has been doing: a work of stability, predictability, and trust,” stated PSD municipal coordinator Pedro Alves in a political declaration in parliament.
The social-democratic deputy, asserting that PSD not only wants to govern but “lead a new cycle of confidence in Portugal,” was questioned by IL and PCP regarding the party’s willingness to change the municipal electoral law.
“Is the PSD intending to make changes that would reduce plurality to implement single-party executives?” asked PCP parliamentary leader Paula Santos.
In response, Pedro Alves remarked that “there are conditions to reflect.”
“If we have to evolve into a different model from the current one, if it is deemed by this parliament as the model that best serves, we are open to discussions with everyone. We intend to discuss openly, listening to everyone, including municipalities,” he said.
The electoral law was also addressed earlier in the plenary by IL deputy Miguel Rangel, who challenged the social-democrats and Chega to allow changes in local power that would combat instability and enhance the role of municipal assemblies, stating the current model is “exhausted.”
Chega, represented by deputy Patrícia Carvalho, challenged PSD to clarify whether it will draw red lines concerning its party in post-election municipal agreements or if it will “join hands with PS, betraying right-wing voters’ trust.”
“For governance, the autonomy of our mayors exists. We trust the mayors we have chosen; they will manage in their own interest,” replied the PSD deputy.
PS deputy Jorge Botelho challenged PSD to treat “all mayors equally.”
“Do not think, PSD, that by having the Government, the Autonomous Regions, it will disadvantage PS-governed councils,” he appealed.
Earlier, CDS-PP deputy João Almeida also praised the results obtained by the PSD and coalitions, especially those of the Christian-Democrats, criticizing those who seemed to have written them off.
By maintaining the six councils it held, the deputy stated that CDS-PP had more council presidents than Chega, IL, Livre, BE, PAN, and JPP “combined.”
“We have passed the party’s greatest survival test,” he stated.
In an afternoon of political declarations mostly dedicated to the municipal elections, IL deputy Miguel Rangel asserted that, on Sunday, the country experienced a “profound change in the political landscape” and considered that the liberals achieved “sustainable growth,” with each mandate won by the party being “an opportunity to prove that it is possible to govern and oversee differently.”
The PSD won the municipal elections on Sunday: alone and in coalitions, the social-democrats have the most elected council presidents, 136. PS was the second party, winning 126 councils alone and two more in coalition with Livre and PAN. Citizen Groups achieved the presidency of 20 councils, and CDU of 12.
CDS-PP, alone, elected six council presidents, and Chega succeeded in three municipalities.
